The 3rd annual Christmas Camp at the Forest City Velodrome is 75% sold out. With over 15 hours of track time scheduled during the 4 day camp, the participants will improve fitness and race tactics for the 2008 season.

Canadian bike designer Argon 18 is proud to announce its association with Team R.A.C.E. Pro. This Canadian team is the elite racing component of charitable organization Team Race Against Cancer Everywhere, created to raise funds to improve the lives of people living with cancer.

This year, Team R.A.C.E. Pro has set its sights on more ambitious racing goals, with the support and experience of Steve Bauer, who co-manages the team with Josée Larocque.

The organization's social mission is matched by a new racing mission: to let young Canadian riders fully develop their talent and experience international-level racing, in the context of a Canadian team.

In the longer term, Team R.A.C.E. Pro hopes to build from its present program and enter the ranks of Pro Tour teams, riding the world's most prestigious events, including races that were marked by the presence of Steve Bauer in the course of a twelve-year career at the pinnacle of pro cycling.In 2008, the team will ride the UCI Continental America Tour. With experienced riders such as Mark Walters and Ryan Roth as well as promising young guns like Mark Batty or Jöel Dion-Poitras, this squad is ready for a fight, and will come equipped with the right kind of weaponry. The entire Argon 18 arsenal will be deployed for the cause, including the Gallium and Platinum road bikes and the E-114, E-112 and Mercury time-trial specials.

Mark Walters (Can)On the Canadian National Team since age of 17 years old. 3-time Canadian World Championship Team Member.

NSCU Test of Metal Registration to Open Soon

Race director Cliff Miller reminded participants this week that registration for the 2008 North Shore Credit Union Test of Metal will begin at 6 p.m. January 1, 2008.

"If you want race this year, you need to be ready to register on-line right at 6 pm" Miller said.

Last year's race sold out in under an hour, and organizers expect this year's race to sell out as quickly.

"It was crazy last year," Miller said, "but this year with local racers already taken care of, we hope that we really open this up to get as many of those who want to ride into the race as possible. This our attempt to try to create as fair a process as possible."

A local's-only registration for 200 people sold out in two hours on December 1, 2007.

This year again, the 800 spots available will be filled on a first come, first served basis; but unlike in the past, there will be no wait list.

"We've heard from riders that they want certainty, this should address that. We will over-sell by 20% and anticipate that many not to make the start line," Miller said.

Registration for the NSCU Test of Metal can be done online at 6 p.m. on January 1st at www.testofmetal.com.

2008 U.S. Cyclo-cross Worlds Team AnnouncedCourtesy USA Cycling

USA Cycling announced today its first lot of nominations to the U.S. National Team for the 2008 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in Treviso, Italy, Jan. 26-27.

Sixteen athletes were nominated to the squad in the elite women's, U23 men's and junior men's categories based on their competitive performance over the course of the last year.

After capturing a silver medal at the 2007 world championships, Katie Compton (Colorado Springs, Colo./Spike Shooter) received an automatic nomination and will lead the elite women's squad. Compton is currently ranked second in the world behind Dutchwoman Daphny van den Brand and earlier this year captured the biggest win of her career with a victory at the third round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup in the Netherlands.

As the highest-ranked American in the final overall U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclo-cross standings, Georgia Gould (Ketchum, Idaho/Luna) also received an automatic nomination but declined participation.

In the U23 men's division, Bjorn Selander (Hudson, Wis./VMG Racing) earned the only automatic nomination to the team with his victory last weekend at the USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Championships.

Sport Events Congress 2008 - Building Business Through Sport!Courtesy SIRC

Special offer extended to NSO/MSO/PSO representatives!

Meet top sport business executives and sport leaders in Canada as they provide their expertise and knowledge to delegates attending Sport Events Congress 2007 scheduled for April 27-29 at the Hilton Lac-Leamy in the national capital region.

Congress Line-UpThe Congress features an impressive line-up of keynote speakers and panelists and session topics, including sessions specifically tailored to the sport community. The 2008 Congress will be the #1 professional development event of the year! If you are a marketing manager, event manager or CEOED with a national, provincial, multi-sport or major games sport organization, you cannot miss this event! In 2007, a record number of representatives from the national sport community attended the Congress - register NOW!

Registration InformationMembers of the national and provincial sport system can attend the entire 3-day Congress at a special rate of $99 + GST (if registered before January 21, 2008). This special rate includes conference materials, PRESTIGE Awards luncheon, Sport Events Exchange (see details below) and all networking and social events. Register on-line at www.canadiansporttourism.com.

Sport Events ExchangeSport Events Exchange is a business-to-business marketplace where events rights holders and municipalities and suppliers meet one-on-one to explore hosting opportunities. Participants are assigned brief appointments to conduct their business meeting. During the Exchange, sport organizations may promote their conferences, AGMs, workshops, competitions, etc. to potential host cities who are enthusiastic about maximizing the tourism benefits associated with hosting sport-related activities in their area. By establishing contact with local sport tourism executives, sport organizations may have access to additional funding or hosting grants available from cities & municipalities. Marketplace participants will also have additional opportunities to interact via a networking lunch that will be integrated into the marketplace.

TestimonialsHere's what members of the sport community have been saying about Sport Events Congress:

"Excellent variety of sessions offered. The Sport Events Exchange was an excellent way for our association to connect with potential venues and organizations who expressed interest in hosting future events and conferences/meetings. It's a great way to introduce NSOs to other aspects of sport, namely the business of sport tourism." - Tamara Medwidsky, Football Canada

"Access to the CSTA Sports Exchange and has increased our ability to recruit hosts for our Canadian Championships. Since taking advantage of these resources I have found that it is often the municipal tourism office that will motivate the local softball community into submitting a bid for some of our championships that are more difficult to place." - Diana Thibodeau, Softball Canada

"As a member of the CSTA, AthletesCAN really benefits from the opportunity to hear from experts in the field of event marketing and sponsorship - a great event!" - Jasmine Northcott, AthletesCAN

'As a sport federation rep it's a fantastic opportunity to have access to all these tools that have been designed to help us capitalize on the economic benefits associated with our events...and to have all these Canadian city reps here, wanting to learn more about our sport and hosting opportunities, is a huge bonus!' - Anonymous

"I found as a sport representative attending for the first time the event had much to offer and excellent opportunities to network with key organizations. Our sport will be returning next year better prepared. Thank you for the great hospitality." - Rick Przybysz, Canadian Broomball Federation